Oxford boards weigh $125M student housing bonds, tourism contracts, and more
Oxford's boards and commissions held a series of meetings over the past two weeks, though no minutes have been published yet, so no decisions are confirmed. The most significant item under consideration is a $125 million student housing revenue bond for the University of Mississippi's West Row Project, which the Board of Aldermen heard at a public hearing on August 4.
Board of Aldermen
The Board of Aldermen met on August 3 and August 4. On August 4, the board held a public hearing on $125 million in student housing revenue bonds for the University of Mississippi West Row Project. The board also gave first reading to ordinances amending the Neighborhood Code Enforcement and Solid Waste chapters, approved emergency purchases related to Winter Storm Fern (including $2,866.50 in estimated training costs for police), accepted a $2,500 donation from Keep Mississippi Beautiful to Environmental Services, and authorized advertisement for bids on a compactor enclosure at South 14th Street and Tyler Avenue. The August 3 meeting focused on discussion of the FY 2026–2027 departmental budgets and a request to approve accounts for all city departments.
Tourism Council
The Oxford Tourism Council met on July 27 to consider several advertising and data contracts totaling over $220,000. The contracts under review included: Miles Partnership advertising for $92,003, Learfield advertising for $75,000, Placer.ai data services renewal for $32,478, AirDNA data services renewal for $10,725, and Compass Media advertising for the MS Tour Guide for $11,600. The council also reviewed updated policies and procedures for Visit Oxford and updates to the FY27 budget.
Historic Preservation Commission
The Courthouse Square Historic Preservation Commission met on August 3 to review three Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) requests. These included new signage at 403 South Lamar Boulevard (Case #489-A), exterior modifications at 1006 Jackson Avenue (Case #490), and exterior modifications at 265 N Lamar Boulevard (Case #491). Each case included administrative approvals and a public hearing.
Municipal Reserve & Trust Fund Board
The Municipal Reserve & Trust Fund Board of Trustees met on August 4 to approve the agenda and minutes from a prior meeting, and to receive a presentation from Glenmedic on the fund's portfolio performance, economic outlook, and investment guidelines. No substantive decisions were listed on the agenda.
Tree Board
The Oxford Tree Board met on August 6 to approve July meeting minutes, hear department reports on summer projects and development issues, and begin reviews of parking lot and street trees. The board also received updates on tree inventory progress and fiscal year funding needs, including a pending arborist report for the Gary Subdivision.
Coming up
- **Planning Commission** (August 10): Seven public hearings, including site plans for a new Whataburger at 706 Sisk Avenue, a McDonald's at 17 Ed Perry Boulevard, and Baptist Memorial's medical office building expansion on Belk Boulevard. Also on the agenda are variance and special exception requests for Baptist Memorial and Beacon View at 1200 North Lamar Boulevard.
- **Park Commission** (August 12): The board will vote on fall sports coaches and officials' pay, memoranda of understanding, and the overall athletic budget. A community matter with Camille Chapman and a possible executive session are also listed.
- **Historic Preservation Commission** (August 17): A public hearing on three Certificate of Appropriateness requests for new construction and an exterior addition at 433 North 15th Street, 1206 South Lamar, and 710 Tyler Avenue.